Deric got a rare start Wednesday in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier against Sporting Kansas City. But barring an unforeseen injury, he'll be back on the bench tonight as Tally Hall faces the Vancouver Whitecaps at Robertson Stadium.

Some MLS observers wondered how the Dynamo would cope in goal after longtime starter Pat Onstad left this offseason. Hanley wasn't concerned. He proclaimed during preseason that the Dynamo likely have the best starter-backup combination of goalkeepers in MLS.

Onstad started it all

Photo: Bob Levey, Getty Images

Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Tally Hall will start between the posts tonight as the Dynamo host the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Tally Hall will start between the posts tonight as the Dynamo host the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Photo: Bob Levey, Getty Images

Deric, Hall uphold Dynamo's excellence in goal

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

Onstad remains a beloved figure in Houston after delivering many clutch performances while helping the Dynamo win the MLS Cup title in 2006 and 2007.

Unable to sign a deal with the Dynamo and passed over during the re-entry draft, Onstad retired to become D.C. United goalkeepers coach this winter.

He became an active player this preseason and is competing for D.C. United. Back in Houston, though, his two former backups have been just fine.

Hall has been nominated for MLS Save of the Week in each of the past two weeks. And few would dispute that Hall is a major reason the Dynamo have two draws and only one loss instead of being 0-3 this season.

He almost singlehandedly helped the Dynamo escape with a draw against the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field, and he was equally crucial last week against the Eastern Conference favorite New York Red Bulls. In both games, the Dynamo were under siege.

"What else can you say? He's been very good," Kinnear said of Hall. "He's pulled off some very good saves.

"I think the save against (Red Bulls' Thierry) Henry down by the post there was excellent by him to kind of close that space and get down as quick as he did. Sometimes you rely on your goalkeeper to get you out of some sticky situations.

"And when called upon, Tally's been very good for us so far."

Hall gave up only one goal in each of the 1-1 ties with the Sounders and Red Bulls.

"Those are two games that I think a team with less character would lose," Hall said. "I think it kind of shows that we've at least turned the corner from some of the things that were some negative aspects of last year.

"Now we're coming into the game and we're fighting off.

Competitive nature

"We're finishing games and making it difficult for people to beat us. Like I said, the wins will come. Right now, I have a lot of confidence in our team as a defensive unit to not give up many goals."

Hanley has been supportive, but he's not letting Hall get cocky.

There are times in training when Hanley goes out of his way to put his goalkeepers in their place and even embarrass them occasionally.

High expectations

Hanley has coached a pair of keepers who won multiple MLS Goalkeeper of the Year awards under his tutelage, and he doesn't praise players for meeting expectations.

"Those performances are expected," Hanley said. "We never get too high when we play good. There's going to be times when they're not so good. We expect those kinds of performances. There's a lot of pressure.

"After Seattle when everyone was raving and everything, I said, 'Tally, that's expected out of you and it's expected from the guy behind you.' Whenever we have someone in goal, we expect those kinds of performances."